Most of Prime Time for Women’s Walking to Wellness members know that minor aches and pains are unfortunately part of aging.  We share, sometimes gripe, offer each other support and joke about all our boo-boos!  When I get complaining too much, I always remember what my Dad used to say, “Minor aches and pains are part of aging and…they sure beat the alternative!” We put a positive spin on it and joke that we are happy to have lived long enough to know a little something about aches and pains.

With that said, we also remind each other that in the words of Bev Kornides, a Physical Therapist with 40 years of experience, “Motion is lotion!  Keep on moving!”  I recently started having pain in my left wrist, which I think is the beginning of carpal tunnel syndrome.  For most people, carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive motions, usually from working on a computer.  For me, I think it is caused by crocheting!  You see, I crochet a baby blanket for each new grandchild and I’m about to have my sixth and seventh grandchildren…so I’ve been crocheting a lot!

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Tingling and numbness. Tingling and numbness may occur in the fingers or hand. Usually the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers are affected, but not the little finger. You might have a feeling like an electric shock in these fingers. These symptoms often occur while holding a steering wheel, phone or newspaper, or they may wake you from sleep.
• The sensation also can travel from the wrist up the arm. Many people “shake out” their hands to try to relieve their symptoms. The numb feeling may become constant over time.
• Weakness. People with carpal tunnel syndrome may experience weakness in the hand and drop objects. This may be due to numbness or to weakness of the thumb’s pinching muscles, which also are controlled by the median nerve.

My symptoms are intermittent, so I haven’t yet seen a doctor.  But I did a little research and found a really great video online that shares the 5 best exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome.  If you are having any of the symptoms listed above, I hope this video helps.